Bwindi Community Hospital Launches Clinic to Address Dental and Vision Challenges

“Friendship is the beautiful magic that brings us all together,” stated Dr. Jean Creasey while recounting her first encounter with Dr. Scott Kellerman and how it led to her work in Bwindi. “When I arrived, there was no dental officer. Today, I have seen other improvements.” Friendship has been one of the drivers for change, transformation, and improvement at the Bwindi Community Hospital.

On Monday, January 15, 2024, Bwindi Community Hospital (BCH), Dr. Scott Kellerman, and friends - Julia Amaral, Mark Strate, Dr. Jean Creasey, and Julia Lippert - came together as they launched the construction site for the hoped-for Dental-Vision School and Clinic. The hospital has been offering dental and vision services, albeit on a small scale.

Despite Bwindi being Famous for its World Heritage site; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the Mountain Gorillas, and various bird species, the health sector in Bwindi is still lacking. Despite these tourism wonders, the people of Bwindi are left behind when it comes to access to specialized health services such as dental and eye care. For a long time, the locals have known the specialized dental services to be mostly cosmetic.

Oral healthcare services in Uganda are provided at both government and private facilities by two professional groups: public health dental officers and dentists. Soon enough, the BCH training wing, Uganda College of Health Sciences Bwindi, will be counted among the few schools training Public Health Dental Officers. This will expand the network of dental service providers to Bwindi and the neighboring areas.

According to the Ministry of Health, basic oral health services are supposed to be free in government health units. However, due to severe shortages of materials, supplies, equipment, and manpower, patients have to seek and pay for basic treatment elsewhere.

According to Dr. Birungi Mutahunga, the District Health Officer in Kanungu, the unmet need for comprehensive dental and visual services is very high. He called for proactiveness and screening of young people. "There are those who couldn't achieve their objectives because of visual and sight problems. Vision is almost everything," he emphasized.

John and Stacy Lippert, also Friends of Bwindi Community Hospital, have brought purpose to Bwindi through their charitable donations and The Hope Alliance charity organization, which has for long intentionally focused on restoring vision. The Hope Alliance is appropriately named; by restoring vision, they are saving lives.

In his remarks, the Bishop of Kinkizi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dan Zoreka congratulated BCH on the landmark achievement of establishing a dental school that will enhance and improve people's lives. The Bishop, who is also a board member of the hospital, commended the efforts of the BCH team for being faithful and accountable with the donations. "You have always put resources given to good use."

With the expansion of the hospital and training wing with the Dental-Vision Clinic and School, Bwindi Community Hospital will go a step further in giving health care in all its fulness to the most in-need communities.